USA Today via Reuters
Dec 8, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka calls out in the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 8, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka calls out in the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Following the controversial exit from the Boston Celtics management, Ime Udoka has paid a heavy price. In 2022, actress Nia Long filed for a divorce, reasoning that Udoka had an extra-marital affair with a Celtics female staff member. Apart from that, last year, Long also filed for custody of their son, Kez, alleging that the Houston Rockets coach hadn’t provided support to him.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Long and Udoka began dating each other during the latter’s affiliation with the San Antonio Spurs. And, it happened to be the last season for Ime as an NBA player. Later, the couple revealed that they were pregnant. After spending time together for over a decade, their marriage came crashing down following the Celtics fiasco.
Months after she filed for the physical custody of her son, the duo seemed to have come to a settlement, as per TMZ Sports. The recent report revealed that Udoka has agreed to pay $32,500 per month in child support.
Top Stories
Nia Long to Receive $32,500/Mo. in Child Support from Ime Udoka | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/VW6hf0Ec4r
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) January 23, 2024
The report further stated that Nia Long had expected a similar child support figure when she filed for physical custody in August last year. Moreover, she settled for the $32.5k figure, despite the court giving her the power to bargain up to $56k.
Notably, the court came to this figure after running through Udoka’s financials and figured that he has more than $400k per month as a disposable income. On the other hand, Long’s monthly disposable is roughly $20k.
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 2, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; NBA official separates Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Additionally, regarding custody, the court has provided sole physical custody to Long and joint legal custody to both of them. Apart from that, Udoka would be allowed reasonable visitation, considering the best interest of the child. The TMZ report further stated that the former couple had found the common grounding cordially and claimed that both parties were “Happy”.
The court also considered the couple’s documents, which pointed out the 46-year-old’s busy schedule traveling with the Rockets. And, it played a major role in giving Long physical custody of her son.
Udoka’s Celtics fiasco – a look back
Ime Udoka took over the head coach role of the Celtics for the 2021-22 season. The team had a great outing, reaching the NBA Finals in his first season itself. Unfortunately, the team couldn’t cross the line.
A few months later, the Celtics management suspended Ime and appointed Joe Mazzulla as the interim coach. While the reasons were hidden under the rug, later it was revealed that he had an inappropriate workspace relationship with a female staff.
Following that, he apologized for his mistake in a statement and withdrew himself from the Celts’ family.
What do you make of the court’s judgement on physical custody filed by Nia Long? Let us know in the comments below.
Watch This Story – “Who has reached 10,000 career points faster than Luka Doncic?”
Written by
Edited by
Sameen Nawathe